Ahhh! The Dominican Republic! It is known to be the highest toured location in all of the Caribbean; with it's white sandy beaches and light blue ocean waters (which is unheard of in the state of Wisconsin, mind you.) It was bound to be the paradise I've always dreamed of visiting. But the very first thing on my mind as soon as I learned about going there was not "Finally! I get a vacation!" Or "Holy Cow! A destination wedding!" All I could think of was, "Where the heck is the Dominican Republic?!"
Okay sure! I took two years of Spanish back in high school, and I vaguely remember having to repeat all the capitals according to third world countries in order to pass the freakin' class! However; if you asked me to point my finger on a globe and tell you where the Dominican Republic was, I'd be staring blankly at it for more than five minutes trying to answer your question. Turns out, I wasn't the only one who didn't have a clue! Before I even left, I received a lot of questions from friends and family pertaining to a country I haven't even visited before. (The fact that I never left the United States before rendered me all that more speechless.)
Another popular theme that was brought to my attention was the kind of things one would bring on an all-inclusive trip like that. Naturally, I was determined to divulge as much information as I could before even stepping foot inside Chicago O'Hare and leaving for seven days without any idea of what I was getting myself into. Thankfully, a Facebook group for all members of the destination wedding was created multiple months prior to the trip and the admin thoroughly explained on what to expect upon arriving to Now Larimar, the resort we would be staying at throughout the duration of our stay.
Before I begin my endless tangent, I'd like to credit this information to the bride herself! Without her tips and tricks, I think I'd still be stranded in Punta Cana having to live off of coconut slices and slamming down El Presidente every night...which, on second thought, might not be the worst thing.
A lot of input mentioned in this post is also due to many of my own personal experiences before and during my flight to Punta Cana. I'm hoping to the convey the importance of abundance (basically what to bring and how much if you shall ever decide to visit Punta Cana.) And overall, just being knowledgeable about the in's and out's of traveling via aircraft to a foreign country. So without further ado...
What to know before getting on the plane:
1.) DOWNSIZE! DOWNSIZE! DOWNSIZE!
This was my first time vacationing outside the US, and I knew I had to go out with a bang! Who doesn't wanna flaunt and take instagrammable photos of themselves while touring one of the most tropical places on the planet? Unfortunately for me, I had to downsize all my clothing in order for to fit in my suitcase, and trust me, I TRIED ALL THE HACKS! I used Ziploc storage bags, rolled up my clothes, and even categorized them from important to least important depending on what events were happening on each day. There was no way of beating this luggage tetris game, so I did what any other girl would do... I transferred my belongings into my S/O's, suitcase. (It belonged to me anyway, so I didn't feel the least bit guilty.) I knew that I could only carry so much, but feared that I wouldn't have enough of the essentials to last the entire week of being in Punta Cana. I also didn't want to spend a fortune just because my suitcase was over the 50 lb weight limit. I discovered shortly after my vacation of all the things I could have done differently for a smoother trip-- along with all the items I needed to last.
2.) Look into what accommodations your airline can provide for you.
I usually travel Southwest because they have more affordable deals. This time around, we had to travel using Frontier because it was one of the few select airlines at Chicago O'Hare that could take us out of the country. To clarify on the accommodations to ask for, be aware of what's all included on your flight. Free baggage? Optional seats? Are snacks included? If not, then here's your next plan of action.
3.) If you want to save money on checked bags, carry as much as possible into one suitcase and one personal bag.
As I mentioned before, there is a 50 lb weight restriction for checked bags at most airports. To prevent having to purchase additional baggage and/or carry on's, make sure you can fit everything into your suitcase and personal bag. Otherwise you'll be looking at an extra $50 to $100 of spending money. If anything, wear the heaviest outfit as you go through TSA. Chances are, they'll pat you down depending on how thick the material is, but it can't be too bad if you're going planning on scorching a few short hours later in the DR.
*Bonus: Neck Pillows are highly advised during long flights. I wouldn't want you to be in an awkward situation with the neighbor in your row...
4.) Speaking of spending money, be sure to carry a credit card and a crap-ton of cash with you.
You know what they say! Never carry cash on your person or it'll most likely be taken from you. Well sorry to have to say this, but you'll be droppin' dollas every which way at the airport for snacks and flying upgrades. Workers also rely heavily on tips at the resort you'll be staying in the DR. To make this note even more financially depressing, you're going to be paying a hefty fee for an ATM if you need to use it outside of the United States. If you're still feeling insecure about pocketing USD, then a credit card is most likely the safest bet. Just make sure to inform your bank before leaving so that you don't run into any false accusations.
5.) Don't be afraid to ask for a "Fragile" tag even if none of your belongings are considered to be breakable.
Let's face it. The workers who take your luggage to and from the plane do not give a crap about what happens inside your suitcase. You have every right to protect your belongings and sometimes that means taking measures into your own hands. Not a lot of people take advantage of the "Fragile Tag," which can be provided at the check in counter for no additional cost. Sometimes it's better to take that extra step to ensure the value of your personal items.
6.) Take a picture of all your luggage before your trip to help identify them easier.
I give myself a pat on the back every time I think about this one. I ran into this problem just before going back to the states. I made a description of my suitcases after they were misplaced. I also pulled out my phone and showed TSA the pictures of my luggage so that they knew what to look for. I'm glad I did because it made the process go by so much faster. I eventually found out that a staff member, who was supposed to place the luggage in the back of the shuttle to bring to the airport, never received our bag check numbers...which I had in my hand all along... oops! This tactic can be used for any situation i.e stolen or misplaced bags if this shall ever come to play.
7.) Apply for your passport at least three months before leaving the country and carry it with you at all times!
My significant other applied for his passport six weeks before our vacation, and the entire time that we were waiting for it to come in the mail, I constantly thought "Someone is gonna get their a** whooped if it doesn't arrive before the trip!" Thankfully it did... a mere three days before our departure. I implore you to not be that person! It takes a while for it to process, so be sure to fill out the paperwork and apply for your passport as soon as you are able to. When you receive it, hang onto it! You will need it to check your bags in at the airport, access the plane, go through the immigration and customs process, and basically everywhere else after that. A driver's licence won't make the cut this time.
8.) Inquire your cell phone carrier about travel packages so that you aren't overcharged on data usage.
I cannot stress this one enough! Had I not went into Verizon beforehand and asked about their international coverage plan, I would have been breaking the bank on my next phone bill! The day before I left, Verizon offered me a "Travel Package," where if in the event I had to make an emergency phone call outside of the country, they would charge me a $10 fee per day. I suppose spending a straight $70 is better than spending my entire paycheck. And who knows? Some carriers might just have better deals when it comes to frequent travelers. All I can say is that it's best to investigate this ahead of time so that you're able to save a buck or two. Turning off your data and switching to airplane mode or WiFi will prevent you from facing this situation firsthand.
9.) Hello Whatsapp!
Investing in a travel package for your phone is a smart move if you ask me, but it doesn't mean you're obligated to use your data while you're gone! As long as you're in a location where you can access WiFi, you can text, make phone calls, and send pictures to your friends and family using Whatsapp. The best part about it? Wait for it...it's free! #holla
This app was a lifesaver for each and every one of us throughout the seven days we were in Punta Cana, and it works the same exact way as it would if you used messenger on your phone... minus the $10 daily fee, of course.
10.) Brush up on Spanish and know the difference in currency.
Granted that most out-of-country resorts are made up of employees that are required to know a basic level of English, you'll need to be prepared to run into people who aren't as fluent. You can prevent these barriers by strengthening your own language skills and blowing the dust off of those Spanish dictionaries in the back of your bookshelf. It is also imperative to understand the difference between USD and pesos, otherwise you'll be scratching your head on how much you're actually paying the entire time you're there. Here's a little freebie: 1 United States Dollar is equivalent to 19.62 in pesos.
I was lucky to be aware of these steps and perform them ahead of time. I didn't run into any major inconveniences along the way, and I will assure you (after reading this article) that you won't have to either.
Keep your eyes open for more of WiscoGirl'sTravelBlog down the road. I try to post as often as I can and I appreciate any and all feedback on the content provided for my viewers. I am also open to your fresh ideas! Is there something you want me to write about? Leave a comment below, or you can reach me at wiscogirlsvlogs@gmail.com. Feel free to follow my instagram @WiscoGirlsTravel as well.
Thanks for reading, my fellow Wisconsinites! ~Netassia Nufer A.K.A WiscoGirl
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